BigPolishJimmy

Alright Michigan Clydes,

There are enough of us on here, when and where should we ride, can't let those PA clydes have all the fun. Kal-Haven trail is near me and has facilities along the trail, or there is good rural road riding out my way albiet a bit flat at times, we could find a hill if we try. Perhaps there is something centerally located in the state?

Ok, throw in your 2 bits

dcrowell

I'm going to be in Michigan (Niles) this Monday. I'll have a bike with me.

ziggydcat

I'm in the southeast side of the state and a former Yooper to boot. We have a great multi purpose/rail trail that runs from Rochester to Richmond, Stoney Creek Metro Park, Heinz Park and several others. If anyone is heading to the U.P. let me know. Many great rides up there.

Peter_C

If there's enough lead time, and it's flat enough - don't forgot, some of us in Ohio may come and join you~!

Neil_B

Where should Michigan Clydes ride? SE Pa, of course.

Tom Stormcrowe

I'm a Hoosier Clyde who has been planning on a KalHaven overnighter, ride it from Kalamazoo to the Lake, camp out a night or 2 and ride back. It got delayed because of heart issues, though. Once I'm cleared, I'm gonna do it on my fixed gear, unsupported. Sound interesting to anyone else?

MIH-Dave

I love Hines DR! That's where I do the majority of my riding. The Metro Parks have some nice bike paths too. I'm in the Dearborn area.

ziggydcat

Hey Dave, I used to live in Redford and would take Hines Dr end to end. Such a great place to ride when it's not flooded. Im in Washington now.

petflunky

I usually ride the Lakelands Trail. Paved is only about 8 miles, the the total usable length is about 20. It can be ridden from Stockbridge to Hamburg.
Another trail is the Falling Waters Trail, from Jackson to Concorde. It also hooks up with a trail in Jackson itself, adding another 3-4 miles to it.
Finally, another nice trail is at Island Lake State Park, in Brighton. It has a 4 mile trail, that connects to Kensington Metroparks trail, which is about 8 miles, and also connects with the trail that takes you into South Lyon.

petflunky

This sounds like fun! I'd need 3 weeks or so notice, so I can clear the days off with work/wife. Heck, maybe I'll take the wife with me. Let me know dates, and I will see what I can do.

BigPolishJimmy

David - looks like we should ride on Monday as I am located just about an hour drive northeast of Niles. I usually ride with the local club on Monday nights, which we could do, or I can show you some of the areas around here that I like to ride. Or I can come down to Niles if you have some good riding down there.

Peter - Of course you are invited, in fact it was your message on youtube that prompted me to post this. As far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier.

Tom - I still want to do a camping trip on the Kal-Haven, let us know when you're ready.

MattyV ? HuskyRider? what are your thoughts?

callmeclemens

That sounds great.

TomT74

+1 for Hines Drive. I live right in the middle of the run (Livonia) from Dearborn to Novi and ride it almost every week. The little hill around 6 Mile Rd. heading to Novi is one of my fitness gauges. I'm not a Clyde, but I'd gladly ride with ya. maybe my 35#tourer will make up some of the mass I lack 8-).

MIH-Dave

Yea, it was flooded weekend before last and I joked that it'd more like a triathlon than a bike ride. I usually ride from my home to Andiamos in Dearborn and follow a MUP to the beginning and ride to Northville Downs and back. Round trip about 60 miles.

My first century (last September) started and ended in Hines. On the way back to the finish it was nice to be in familiar territory and know how much further it was.

Road Fan

Hi, MIH-Dave and all!

I'm not officially a Clyde (180 lb), but neither am I a snake, and I do have a BMI challenge. I live in Ann Arbor, but would like to meet up with some other MIBFRs (Michigan Bike Forum-ers). I could help with some really nice Ann Arbor-area routes, but I'd really like to see what's beyond my back yard.

I'm also planning to go on the Shoreline MUP tour this July. 5 days ride/1 day off, 65 miles / day, about 325 miles total. The basics of the route are St. Ignace - DeTour - Soo - Paradise - Newberry - St. Ignace. It's said to be on paved roads - I'm a little skeptical, but I am going to ride it on Pasela Tourguards.

MIH-Dave

I hate that hill with a passion. I've only made it once without stopping, but that's so close to my turn around point and I'm tired at that point (excuses, excuses).

TomT74

When I got back into riding, I stalled out several times on that hill in a 24/32 gear on a Novara hybrid with a MTB crank. My proudest day was making it up the first time on a 34# recumbent in the same gear. I still need the granny for it on my current DF (Windsor Tourist) but it's easier now. On my usual route, it's about 11 miles into the ride. If I'm feeling particularly puckish, I'll go do the run from Hines to Beck and back on 5 Mile, then take the Hines hill. That hurts.

+1 on the MUP from Hines to Andiamo's. I love that little stretch over the bridges and in the woods.

MIH-Dave

Almost hit a deer once on that stretch, but it is a nice path. It's really nice on the way home because it's always cooler that the rest of the ride.

BigPolishJimmy

What do you east-siders think of the Falling Waters Trail? It looks like it might be a good mid-point for both east & west to come together and ride. Park map says aprox 10-miles, out-and-back would make it about 20. I've never been but it sounds nice. How do you like the ride out there Petflunky?

Also, I suppose I should say, this is not going to be an organized/supported ride, but just a bunch of folks getting together to put faces to screen-names. Unless of course someone else here has experience and an interest in putting together an organized ride.

rjc100

[QUOTE=BigPolishJimmy;10967453]What do you east-siders think of the Falling Waters Trail? It looks like it might be a good mid-point for both east & west to come together and ride. Park map says aprox 10-miles, out-and-back would make it about 20. I've never been but it sounds nice. How do you like the ride out there Petflunky?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I live in Jackson, and use the trail a lot for begininng rides, mostly do a few miles as warm up and then move on to the main roads to go north and south as well.

I have ridden the trail 10.4 miles out and back and it is very flat and smooth. As with many other multi use trails, you have to watch for many walkers, skaters and dog walkers. This trail is one of the best thing ever to happen to the area.

petflunky

If you are riding from Jackson into Concord, you will probably be riding into the wind the whole way, so it may be slow going for you. On the way back though, it will be much quicker. Also, it's very flat and straight, so it's a nice ride.

Peter_C

I'm easy~! Just let me know when and where (I do vote for flat, or mostly flat - hills and I hate each other)??

Hopefully on a Saturday (so I can talk Mr DanW to join us, perhaps Chipcom too??) - a week or so lead time so people can clear time for it might be a good idea as well?

Askel

Whatever you do, don't come to the UP to ride. Our roads are terrible. All four lane highways. With no scenery! Nothing but strip malls. And don't get me started on how awful our mountain bike trails are. I mean, if we had any mountain bike trails....

dcrowell

Ha! My mother lives in "da UP". I'm gonna have to make a point to go up there sometime.

pcmike

Bikefitness.net is devoted to Michigan bike riding... we do training rides each Saturday and post details on the site... we move around a lot so check it out and join us... I'm a clyde and we have a great group....